Just a few more weeks until competition, the Hornet 2018 race car is preparing for its unveiling.

#topten

A major difference from last year in electrical was being able to use a data logger to get information from track sessions like lap time, ECU connection to for tunes and sensors monitoring systems like wheel behavior. Simple mistakes like rushing and not paying attention can cause the car to fail, electrical helps keep it safe for the driver by making sure the system is reliable.

The cockpit control is where the driver goes to work and provides feedback for improvement to make the ride more driver friendly. This year we have modified the brake pedal, gas pedal, shifters and clutch lever. Our goals for the new brake system is to get more power in the brakes, lessen driver fatigue and having more trust in vehicle stopping power. A huge advantage are the paddle shifters making it seamless when going through gears.

Another important component of the car is steering, which controls which way the car is going by one of our drivers. Our steering lead Grayson designs the system that controls the direction of the front wheels. Being one the drivers, Grayson pushes the car to its limit while also providing feedback when it comes to tuning and adjusting parts on the car like suspension.

Mid way through the semester and just a few months close to competition, our Hornet F18 is coming for top ten.

Aerodynamics keeps the car on the ground in terms of reducing wind and drag by controlling the air flow to help with downforce. Last year we were the fastest team without an aerodynamics package, this year we will be introducing Hornet Racing’s first ever full aero kit for the goal of top ten. Big thanks goes out to our aerodynamics team for their design and calculations when it came to adding this new edition to the F-18 Hornet.

Check out our new livery concepts on Instagram as we decide which one to place on our 2018 race car. Senior Designer Todd Morrow of 2morrowdesign from the Bay Area has partnered with Hornet Racing in creating these awesome designs. The inspiration behind the livery comes from a Boeing F/A-18E Super Hornet fighter aircraft. Out of the three concepts, one will be chosen to represent Hornet Racing and bring it to life. Please be sure to follow Todd on Instagram: 2morrowdesign where you can view his work and car.

Powertrain, essentially the heartbeat of the car. A major challenge this year was packaging the drivetrain to adjust our new suspension setup. The changes made from last year were refining the powertrain, engine stimulation, customizing internals, cylinder head modifications and being able to do more tuning at the dyno.

Composites are when two different materials come together to form one. For our car, we used twill weave carbon fiber, with room temperature cure epoxy. We also used foam core for other parts of the car to be stiffer, like the seat.

Hornet Racing’s debut of the 2018 car is almost here, come join us as we celebrate the unveiling! Over the past few months we've been working hard and making progress to get ready for competition and goal for top ten. This will be a great opportunity to meet our members, have some food and of course see our race car. Our event will take place at 900 Riverside Avenue in Roseville, CA on April 21st, 2018 from 10am-1pm. See you there!

When building a race car, power doesn’t mean anything without a properly built chassis to hold it all together. The frame, suspension and chassis are closely related when designing our 2018 build. #top ten

A major difference this year is going from 13-inch wheels to 10-inch wheels in order to reduce the weight of the vehicle. Tires are definitely important because they develop all the forces that cause the acceleration, braking and turning. We select our tires and work our way inwards, frame doesn’t start until suspension geometry is determined based on where the tire is.

Some difficulties encountered with suspension were fitting all the components and redesigning everything in the wheel. A huge opportunity was changing the brake calipers to take less real estate, as a result, it saved a pound and a half. Suspension is important because all the force that occurs at the tire needs to be able to handle maximum amount of acceleration, braking and cornering.

The difference in the frame from last year is modifying how we mount the suspension to the frame, engine mounts, tube sizing, and pick up points.

Modifying the engine mount tubing saved two pounds compared to last year. Being able to handle the stress and driving conditions on the track all play a major factor when designing the frame.

At Sacramento State there's a team dedicated to building a race car by applying concepts learned and working together to get the goal of top ten in competition. Hornet Racing is Sacramento State University's Formula Society of Automotive Engineers Team established in 1995 to design, manufacture and assemble a race car from the bottom up, by working together with each component of the car, managing time and meeting deadlines.

The team consists of both male and female students from all disciplines who build, design and market a race car from the bottom up. They work throughout the year to get prepared to compete against over 100 universities in the SAE Collegiate Design Series in Lincoln, Nebraska. The events at competition are design, presentation, cost, acceleration, skidpad, autocross, endurance, and fuel efficiency. Experienced members lead, teach and motivate incoming members. If you have a passion for cars, there’s a spot for you.

Last year we placed 16th overall, 13th in Autocross, 16th in design, 11th in cost, 13th in endurance and fastest non-aero against over 100 universities in the SAE Collegiate Design Series in Lincoln, Nebraska! Taking notes from last year, we have improved our car by redesigning our suspension, frame and introducing an all new efficient aerodynamics package. Top ten.

This organization not only enhances engineering abilities, it also teaches time management, building relationships with the community and preparing us for the workforce upon graduating. If you enjoy building, hands on experience, motivating others, managing and creating you’ve stopped at the right spot. Think of us as a small business organization.

This doesn’t come easy and takes over 10,000 hours of design, fabrication and testing each year. From time management to ensuring each part is designed efficiently, being able to make these decisions helps us apply it to real life situations.

If you’re interested in engineering, business, media and design there’s a spot waiting. During rush week, we reach out to our Sacramento State students from all disciplines to join our organization. We also reach out to our local schools, sponsors, alumni’s, and car enthusiasts to join us at events held throughout the year.

With the help of our awesome sponsors, we are able to reach our monetary goals and have access to parts and software for the build of our race car. Throughout the year we invite our sponsors to see our progress at events where we test our build and see our accomplishments made with their support.

Stay tuned for events and updates on Hornet Racing's race car in the Road to Lincoln.